Page 101 - John Kador - 201 Best Questions to Ask on Your Interview-McGraw-Hill (2002)

INTERVIEW THE INTERVIEWER

? Memorably Bad Question

#9
Why do I have to fill out this job application? It’s all on my ré-
sumé.

Treat the job application as your first assignment for the com-
pany. Who needs someone who resists work even before they
are hired?
Melanie Mays
Empyrean Consulting
Dallas, TX

7-16
I know that for the position for which I am interviewing, the company
has decided to recruit from outside the organization. How do you decide
between recruiting from within and going outside?
This question lets the interviewer talk about the relative merits of pro-
moting from within and bringing in new ideas and talent (hopefully
yours!) to meet the needs of the company. A good answer is that the
company is growing too fast for internal promotions to support its chal-
lenges.
7-17
How does this position relate to the bottom line?
This is an inquiry into the significance of the job or department. If the
job has only an indirect impact on the bottom line, when times get tough
it can be considered an expense center rather than a profit center.

7-18
What advice would you give to someone in my position?
Don’t lay it on too thick, but this kind of question can make an HR per-
son’s day.

7-19
How did you get into your profession?
Remember, “profession,” not “job.”

76